The roots of Linemaster extend back to the great depression of the 1930s. With a generous gift of $500.00 from his Aunt, and a business machinery loan from the Reynolds Company in Providence, Rl, Albert Simonds, incorporated the Simonds Machine Company in Southbridge, Massachusetts in 1937.

From this modest beginning, he produced the Lensmaster optical machinery line to grind lenses of all sizes. As his business grew, he found a need for a good, reliable foot switch to operate his equipment that required the operator to maintain hands-free capability at all times. Consequently, he invented the foot switch, and Linemaster was born. His first foot switch, the Senior, came to fruition through the sale of Al's optical machinery to a company called New Era in Chicago. The management of a tool shop in the same building saw it and asked if they could acquire some of those switches. This request was forwarded back to Al at Lensmaster, and the ball began to roll.